Loose leaf book



Feb. 23, I J sc v 2,071,768

LOOSE LEAF BOOK ori ina Filed June 15, 1934 INVENTOR Jab 1v SCI/ADE- ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1937 iJNi'EEE STAKES PATENT OFFICE Blank Book Company, Holyoke, Mass, at poratien of Massachusetts Original application June 15, 1934, Serial No. 730,684. Divided and this application May 25,

1936, Serial No. 81,600

2 Claims.

This invention is an improvement in loose leaf books. It was first disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 730,684, filed June 15, 1934,

of which the present application is a division.

The object of the invention claimed herein will appear from its disclosure- In the accompanying draWing- Fig. 1 is a skeletonized view of the book in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the book in open reading position on a table; and

Fig. 3 is a skeletonized view of the book in sheet changing position.

Referring to Fig. 2, the book is shown opened for reading, exactly as shown in the parent application. The back portion in this form consists of metal plates 2 and 8 hinged on pintle l. The outer edge of each plate is provided with an integral right angle flange 2 and 3. The outer edge of each flange has a still shorter flange at right angles and thus parallel to its plate in overhanging relation, as shown at 2 and 3".

Semi-circular prongs 8 and 9 are permanently fastened, as by riveting or welding, to the outer edges of plates 2 and 3. These prongs are arranged about tangent to flanges 2 and 3 and extend through fitting notches in flanges 2 and 3", with the plan of most effective bracing and with space economy in the book construction. Prongs 8 and 9 are preferably of half round crosssection with the flat sides positioned to slide one against the other. Two or more sets of prongs 8 and 9 are spaced along the back panel to hold the filler leaves, as will be understood. Each set when overlapped as in Fig. 2 gives the equivalent of a ring as in a loose leaf ring book. Both prongs of each set enter the same set of aligned holes in the filler pack but enter these holes from opposite sides.

The covers l and 5 are flexible but fairly heavy so as not to be flimsy. A good quality leather will suit my cover purpose. As illustrated, each leather cover 5 and 5 is provided with a weakened hinge line B. Each cover as shown has an integral portion of reduced thickness cemented on its adjacent back portion plate so that plates 2 and 3 are covered close up to the hinge line i. The flange portions 2 and 3 may be firmly cemented or otherwise fastened to the overlapping portions of covers t and 5, or such flange portions may be left loose. In either case when the covers are swung up they will bear against flanges 2' and. 3 to turn the plates. It will be noted that these portions are inside the hinge lines 6 of the covers.

The results of the structure by way of convenientloose leaf book operation and use will now be described.

When the covers 4 and 5 are lifted from the position of Fig. 2 to the closed position indicated in Fig. 1, the flexible covers lift the open sheets on them. Thus, the sheet pack is positioned on the prongs and, as the covers are closed, the plates 2 and 3 turn on hinge I to the coplanar position in Fig. 1. In this position the prongs 8 and 9 are in overlapping position to a far greater extent than in Fig. 2. In the partially open position of Fig. 2 each pair of prongs is the equivalent of a ring, but in the closed position they move together and downwardly with the back plates 2 and 3, so that each pair of prongs is positioned as in curved prong type books.

When the book is opened from the position of Fig. l to that of Fig. 2-, the covers may simply be dropped open. They are preferably made heavy enough and of sufficient stiffness (although they are flexible) to move plates 2 and 3 to such partially open position. The reason for having the covers flexible is to avoid having them stand up at a slight angle (with the prongs in the partially open position of Fig. 2), as they would have to do if their flexibility were not sufficient to take the slightly arched form indicated in Fig. 2. As shown in my above-mentioned copending application, with stiif covers that do not bend it is desirable to provide hinges between the back panel plates and the covers, so the latter can lie out flat while making more than a right angle with their adjacent back plates such as plates 2 and 3. In the present application the flexible covers by their slight bend avoid the extra hinges of the other form.

The sheet changing or fully open position of the parts indicated in Fig. 3 is attained by simply pushing the covers closer together at their inner edges as by sliding them on a table. This opens up the prongs 8 and 9, as will be clear. And the reverse movements of the covers will again overlap the prongs.

The book shown herein is proportioned and weighted in the covers for the normal functions described. It is a very simple, good appearing book having both the advantages of the prong type book in close packing of the filler sheets and of the ring book in easy spread-out condition of the sheets.

It may be desirable in some instances to' provide a releasable latch to prevent the movement of the parts to the sheet changing position of Fig. 3 except when such a latch is deliberately tened on said margin and extending at right angles to the edge of the cover to form half of the back portion of the book and a short flange on the outer edge of the plate, a set of curved posts rising from the edge of the cover with a curvature at that point tangent to the cover and extending over the back portion of the book with a curvature approximately that subtended by the whole back portion as a diameter.

2. In a loose leaf binder the combination of two stifi flat plates longitudinally hinged together and forming the back panel in fiat form for the binder when closed, right angle flanges at the outer edges of said plates, flexible covers fastened to said flanges, said flexible covers being heavy enough when they fall open to swing the back panel plates on their hinge line and upwardly, sheet holding prongs attached to the edges of the back panel and overlying the same in prong overlapping position when the binder is closed and when it is opened by the falling of the covers, said prongs being adapted to be moved out of prong overlapping position by pushing the covers together for further movement of the back panels closer together, said flexible covers and their connections to the back panel being stifi enough to result in movement of the back panel upwardly when the covers are fully opened.

JOHN SCHADE. 

